Mailbox



L. W. BAKER Oct. 7, 1947.

MAIL BOX 2 Sheets-Sheef l Filed July 5, 1246 vinili!!! Lena W Baker INVENTOR.

TT ORNE YS' Oct. 7, 1947. w, BAKE 2,428,509

MAIL BOX Filed July 5, 194e 2 shets-sheet 2 [e212 Warer A INVENTOR.

' Armem'rf Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAHJBOX Lena W. Baker, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application July 5, 1946, Serial No. 681,498

(Cl. 232p-l9) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail boxes.

Many houses and other buildings are constructed without porches or canopies over their entrances and since a mail box is usually installed in the wall adjacent the entrance it is thus exposed to rain and snow, and in many instances even though a canopy overhangs the entrance, it does not protect the mail box from the weather. Consequently when mail is delivered to and co1- lected from such a box, it is likely to be damaged by the elements. Therefore it is one object of my invention to provide an improved mail box which will to a major extent overcome these difficulties and efciently protect the mail.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a mail box including a chute adapted to be installed in an exterior building wall having means at its lower end for receiving delivered mail and interior and exterior openings at its upper portion; together with an outer door carrying a receptacle on its inner side for holding mail and extending across the chute when the door is closed and swinging outwardly with the door, when the latter is opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mail box having a swinging exterior door carrying a receptacle on its inner side having a closed top and rear and end openings, whereby mail placed in said receptacle, when the door is swung open, is protected from the weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mail box including a chute adapted to be installed in an exterior building wall and having upper and lower interior openings and an upper exterior opening, together with doors covering said openings; the exterior door carrying a receptacle on its inner side accessible from the upper interior opening when the exterior door is closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mail box which is free from complex operating elements, is simple and compact in construction and which may be made entirely of sheet metal.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is sho-wn, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a mail box constructed in 4accordance with the invention, facing the interior side,

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of said box installed in a building wall,

Fig. 3 is an isometrical View of the upper portion of said mail box, the exterior door being open,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 vis an isometrical view illustrating `a. mailreceiving basket at the lower end of the mail box,

Fig. 6 is a Vertical sectional View of the hinged trap plate and a portion of the chute, and

Fig. 7 is a similar View of a modified form of trap plate, on a reduced scale.

In the drawings, the numeral .I0 designates an upright chute which includes a top section A, a medial section B and a bottom section C. The chute is preferably formed of sheet metal which may be galvanized or otherwise weatherproofed. This chute may have a, generally rec.

tangular shape in cross-section, having its greater dimension from end to end. The lower end of the top section A is reduced and shouldered, as indicated at II, to telescope the upper end of the section B and rest thereon. The lower end of the section B is also reduced and shouldered, as indicated at I2, to telescope the topof the sec tion C.

The medial section B is provided at its ends with projecting ears I3 which are secured tothe end walls of the sections A and C by rivets or bolts I4. In Fig. 2, the chute is shown mounted in an exterior building wall between the outer covering I5, rwhich may be brick, wooden or ce A ment, and the inner covering I6, which may be of any suitable structure. For the purposes oi description, the covering I5 will be referred to as the outer or exterior wall; while the inner covering I6 will be called the inner wall. By making the chute in sections it lends itself to adjustability and variation in dimensions. While the sections are shown as each engaging both walls, this is not essential and the design may be altered in accordance with building conditions.

The bottom section C has a closed bottom I1 and a false bottom I8 inclining toward a transverse receiving opening 29 in its inner wall 2|; said opening extending from one end Wall to the other end wall of the section. Mail, such as packages, dropped into the chute is accumulated on the inclined bottom I8. An outwardly-di- "greater vertical height than the collar 32. bottom 41 of the receptacle is stepped so thatv rected collar 22 surrounds the opening 20 and fits in an opening 23 in the inner wall I6.

An elongate hinge sleeve 24 is formed on the medial portion'of the outer edge of the collar and lies between similar sleeves 25 formed on the upper edge of an elongate door 26; said sleeve being hinged on a pintle 21. The door overhangs the collar and the opening 23 and is provided at its lower end with a central knob 26'. Any suitable catch may be provided for holding the door in a closed position and preventing mail parcels from pushing it open. If desired, a receiving basket 28 having a hanger yoke at its rear side, mayv be used, as is shown in Fig. 5. A pair of hooks 2S may be inserted in the wall above the opening 23. is swung up against the inner Wall and yoke en-4 gaged on the hooks in front of the upturned door,

Yi5 When the basket is employed, the door 25' whereby said door is supported. The rear of the;

basket is open and itsY bottom will be below the opening 23 so that mail falling upon the inclined bottom I8, will slide down into said basket.

The top section A has a closed topV 3G and an interior opening 3| in its inner wall surrounded by a rectangular collar 32 extending horizontally ofthe section. An inner door 33 is hinged at one 'end ,to the collar and is indicated at 34. At its opposite end the door has a knob 35 and any suitable catch (not shown) may be used. The collar 32 ts snugly inan opening 3 6 in the wall I3. The doors 26 and 33 overlie the openings 23 and 35 flat against the surface of the inner wall I6, thus concealing said Openings and the collars 22 and 32. f

As is best shown in Figs. Zand 3, the section A 'has an elongate rectangular opening 31 across its front wall which .ts snugly in an opening 39A in the outer wall I5. The top 30 is extended to form the top of the collar. An elongate face plate 4i) is secured longitudinally across the outer edge of the top 33, extending above and below said top. An elongate hood 4l secured to the upper portion of the face plate overhangs the collar and pro.- tects the opening into the chute. An elongate exterior door 42 hinged to one end of the collar at 43, has its upper edge underlying the bottom edge of the face plate, when closed. This door overliesthe ends and bottom of the collar and 'rests ilat against the outer face of the wall l5, when closed.

A very important feature of the invention resides in an elongate receptacle 44 suitably secured to the inner side of the door, as by welding,vwhere by the door forms the front thereof. This receptacle has a closed top 45 and its hinged end is closed by an end wall 4'6. When the door is swung outwardly, the receptacle is' likewise swung outwardly through the collar to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the top 45 protects the interior of said receptacle. When the door is closed the receptacle extends across the chute to the 'opening 3 l.

It will be observed that the collar 38 has a The its outer'portion overlies the bottom of the collar 38 and itsA inner portion is ush with the bottom of the inner collar 32 and close thereto. The reduced rear or inner side of the receptacle is open, as indicated at 48, vso that when the inner door 3,3 is opened access is readily had to said receptacle to place mail therein or remove it therefrom.

The outer end of the receptacle is cut at such an. angle to the door 4 2 as to cause the outer end to Adoor the collar when the door is swung. In

order that the mailman may remove mail from or deposit mail in the receptacle, an opening 49 is provided in the outer end wall thereof. The reand released, it is provided with a spring hinge 5l mounted on the outer Wall of the section A V(Figs. 2 and 6). In Fig. 7, a modified form of trap plate is shown. A trap plate 52 formed ofY spring metal is bent at its upper edge to form a downturned flange 53 which is secured to the outer wall ofthe section and the lower edge portion, or said plate is curved downwardly to rest against the inner wall of the section B. In either form, a package or parool dropped, on saidrlate will depress the latter and fall tothe ,ed bottom I8, thus being trapped below the M which will return to normal` position. The exev terior door 42 is provided with a kheb 54. ee .-l nected with a suitable catch 55, which may be o the lock type if desired. Y v f When the mailbox is installed in the building Wall, the parts Will be in the positions shawn Fig. 2. The exterior door vMlooine Closed, rain the collar 38 and of course the top 45 keeps; Waterl out of the receptacle 44;. The hood 4l deflects water running down the. outer surface Vof the wall l5 and from blowing in Vbetweeny the face plate 40 and the top ofv said receptacle. Since the door 42 overlies the bottom and vertical edges of the collar 38, the opening 39 is protected.

In using the mail box, the occupant of' the building may place letters and other mail matter in the receptacle by opening the door 33, which gives access to said receptacle through the open-e ien 48- In delivering mail the. postmau splines the door 42 open to the position .Show-n in Fig.-

and removes any mail therefrom which.,v is tot@ posted. The door 33 being closed and the trap plate 50 being up, cold air isY substantially plies eluded from entering the building. VLetters and Suitable mail are deposited by the postman in the receptacle through the end opening 49am are thus protected Yfrom the Weather. Large packages and parcels are inserted threugh'the collar 38 and dropped on the plate''whicnwil swing downward and drop said mail 'onto the inclined bottom I9. mail will be held in the bottomof the chute, Ybut if the basket 28 is used, as showninfFigfB, then the mail will slide out intosaid basket. Y

The postman closes the door 42 and vlatchesfit; To remove mail the occupant opens the doors-32 and 2.6 and the mail is received in good con-dition. If the postman should have only vletters or small parcels to deliver .it is obvious that` the door 42 need not be fully opened. V.If the door is swung outwardly only sufficiently 'to expose the front end of the opening 49, the top45. in conjunction with the hood 4I will 'protectthe' opening 31 and exclude the elements. The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various `'changes Yin the size, shape and materials, `as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention."

If the door 261s closed'th i What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mail box including, an upright chute adapted to be mounted in an exterior wall of a building and having means at its lower end for receiving delivered mail and an interior opening and an exterior opening at its upper portion, an exterior door closing the exterior opening of the chute, and a receptacle for mail carried by the door extending into the chute when said door is closed and swinging outwardly with the door when said doorl is opened,

2. A mail box including, an upright chute adapted to be mounted in an exterior wall of a building and having means at its lower end for receiving delivered mail and an interior opening and an exterior opening at its upper portion, an exterior door closing the exterior opening of the chute, and a receptacle for mail carried by the door extending into the chute when said door is closed and swinging outwardly with the door when said door is opened, the receptacle having an opening accessible from the interior opening of the chute when the door is closed.

3. A mail box including, an upright chute adapted to be mounted in an exterior wall of a building and having means at its lower end for receiving delivered mail and an interior opening and an exterior opening at its upper portion, an exterior door closing the exterior opening of the chute, and a receptacle for mail carried by the door extending into the chute when said door is closed and swinging outwardly with the door when said door is opened, the receptacle having an opening accessible from the interior opening of the chute when the door is closed and a second opening accessible when the door is open.

4. A mail box including, an upright chute adapted to be mounted in an exterior wall of a building and having means at its lower end for receiving delivered mail and interior and exterior openings at its upper portion, an exterior door closing the exterior opening of the chute, and a receptacle carried by the inner side of the door having its top closed and having openings in its rear side and one end.

5. A mail box including, an upright chute adapted to be mounted in an exterior wall of a building and having means at its lower end for receiving delivered mail and an interior opening and an exterior opening at its upper portion, an exterior door closing the exterior opening of the chute, and a receptacle carried by the inner side of the door having its top closed and having openings in its rear side and one end, the opening in the rear side of the receptacle communicating with the interior opening of the 6 chute when the door is closed and the opening in the end of the chute being exposed when the door is opened.

6. A mail box including, a box section adapted to be mounted in an exterior building wall having an interior opening in its inner wall and an exterior opening in its outer wall, a door hinged on the section at one end of the exterior opening thereof, and an elongate receptacle mounted on the inner side of the door and extending across the section to the interior opening when the door is closed and movable outwardly through the exterior opening of the receptacle when the door is swung open, the receptacle having a xed and sealed top, whereby rain and snow are excluded from the receptacle when said receptacle is swung outwardly with the door and mail is deposited in the receptacle.

7. A mail box including, an upright chute adapted to be mounted in an exterior wall of a building and having means at its lower end for receiving delivered mail and an interior opening and an exterior opening at its upper portion, an exterior door closing the exterior opening of the chute, a receptacle for mail having a closed top, said receptacle and said top being carried by the door and extending into the chute when said door is closed and swinging outwardly with the door when said door is opened, and a trap plate hinged in the chute between the upper and lower openings.

8. A mail box including, an upright chute having a separate medial section attached to a separate bottom section and a separate top section attached to the medial section, the bottom chute section having an interior opening and a door therefor, the top section having interior and exterior openings, an inner door for the interior opening of the top section, an exterior door for the exterior opening of the top section, and a receptacle secured to the inner side of the exterior door and extending across the top section to the interior opening thereof, said receptacle having a closed top and openings in its rear side and one end.

LENA W. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED l The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

